Teqball – The Fusion of Football and Table Tennis
Introduction
In the world of sports, new formats are capturing the attention of fans and athletes. One of the most original ones is Teqball, a mix between football and table tennis. It's generally played on a curved table, and is gaining popularity around the world, even for competition level.
Background
Teqball was invented in Hungary around 2012, by Gábor Borsányi, György Gattyán, and Viktor Huszár. Together, they tried to create a different way for football players to use their skills in a different way, where they can use any part of their body, besides their hands (just like football), and hit the ball over the net while landing it to the opponents side of the table. This game became viral in many social media platforms, and this resulted on the creation of the FITEQ (2017), an international federation that regulates and manages the sport at a professional level. The sport has grown substantially, with endorsements, celebrities (such as Neymar Jr.) tournaments and interest from fans all over the world.
Analysis: Managing Teqball's Growth
There is no doubt that the sport is gaining more fame over the years, and it's been well managed for the rapid growth that has experienced over the years. The help of the different Teqball national federations, the competitions and the process of standardizing the sport has been crucial for its growth.
However, the main challenge is finding the right balance between the amateur appeal of Teqball, with the expansion of the sport from a business perspective. Some critics argue that the over commercialization, specially if it's too soon, could affect negatively the organic/natural growth.
From a player's perspective, Teqball provides an interesting way to improve football skills while having fun at the same time. Some players have commented that it could remain as a niche sport, specially due to its difficulty and high-skill requirement. From the fan or spectator perspective, the fast pace, dynamism, and entertainment, Teqball offers great value. On the other hand, for the organizers, it's considered a low-cost sport and most importantly, scalable. It only requires Teqball tables, which can be set up in small spaces, and a football.
The main issue, once again, its regarding about whether Teqball should develop into a completely professional or competitive sport or stay as a recreational game. What are your thoughts about it?
Future perspective:
Looking ahead, the possible inclusions of Teqball in the Asian Beach Games and World Urban Games may mean that this sport is well-placed to become a global sport competition. There are suggestions to include it as an Olympic sport in the years to come, which would give it an even greater boost.
What do you think? Will Teqball ever rival other popular sports such as table tennis? Is its current growth sustainable, or could it slowly disappear like other trendy sports? We'll be happy to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Olinga Mottahedeh
References:
https://www.fiteq.org/news/425
https://www.sbnation.com/2022/11/11/23451251/teqball-olympics-los-angeles-2028-ioc
https://www.one37pm.com/sports/teqball-game-info
I think Teqball has the potential to become quite a popular sport. Unlike Bossaball, I have already seen this a few times. The reason why this can be a popular sport is because it combines elements of both soccer and table tennis, 2 very famous sports.
ReplyDeleteAs for sustainability, Teqball's growth looks promising. It's crucial though to maintain engaged through events and tournamens to avoid fading out. If it reaches the goal of creating a strong culture around this sport, Teqball could become really big I think!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Kaat! I agree that Teqball has great potential, especially with its mix of soccer and table tennis. Engaging events and tournaments will be key to building a strong community around it. What types of events do you think would attract more fans?
Delete(Omar Al Ghais)
ReplyDeleteWith Teqball's growing popularity around the world and it's potential for inclusion in major sporting events, in your opinion do you think it will remain a niche/small sport focused on skill-building and recreation, or could it evolve into a mainstream competitive sport like table tennis for example?
Thanks for your comment, Omar! I think Teqball has the potential to evolve into a more mainstream sport, especially with its skill-focused play. If it gains more visibility and support, it could definitely reach a wider audience. What do you think would be the biggest factor in making that happen?
DeleteI love this sport! Every time I see that kind of table and have a ball, I can't resist playing. I think it’s difficult for Teqball to become as popular as table tennis or football, but it has a lot of potential to grow professionally. My question is: what do you think is the biggest factor driving its popularity worldwide?
ReplyDeleteI’m glad you love Teqball! Its easy setup and fast gameplay really help it gain popularity. The fact that people can play it casually with friends makes it fun and accessible. As more players discover it through events, there’s a good chance it could grow in the professional scene as well.
DeleteThis sport is amazing and although it is also difficult to play, it is very entertaining and it is a pleasure to see people play it. My question is: Do you think Teqball could sustain its popularity and even reach Olympic levels, or might it fade away over time?
ReplyDeleteIt’s great to hear you find Teqball amazing! Its combination of skill and entertainment definitely makes it fun to watch. I believe Teqball has the potential to sustain its popularity, especially with more exposure through events and competitions. If it can build a strong community and attract enough players, it could even reach Olympic levels in the future.
DeleteDo you think Teqball should focus on becoming a professional, competitive sport, or would it be better as a fun, recreational activity?
ReplyDeleteTeqball can succeed in both areas. Focusing on professional play could increase visibility, but it’s also important to keep it fun for casual players. In conclusion, we believe that both options are compatible in order to make the sport grow.
DeleteGreat job with this post! Teqball is definitely one of the freshest ideas in sports right now. Mixing football and table tennis on a curved table is such a cool twist, and it’s no surprise it’s gaining so much popularity. I love that it’s accessible, fun, and also a way to improve football skills. The real challenge will be finding the right balance between a recreational and competitive sport without losing its original vibe. And who knows? Maybe we’ll even see it in the Olympics someday. Anyone else think Teqball could reach that level?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment! I agree, Teqball is a great mix of football and table tennis, and it’s great that it’s fun and easy to play. We consider that finding the right balance between being a fun game and a serious sport will be important. It would be exciting to see it in the Olympics someday! What do you think could help it reach that level?
DeleteThis is the perfect sport for the lovers of football and the racket games. Nowadays you see more and more children looking for a way to play Teqball, as this type of court is difficult to find. As I always did, using a ping pong or paddle tennis court, fun is guaranteed. I think it should also take this sport more seriously. How do you value this option?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts, Pol! Teqball is indeed a great fit for fans of football and racket games. It’s exciting to see more kids interested in playing, even if the courts are hard to find. We believe that taking the sport more seriously could help with its growth and accessibility, allowing even more people to enjoy it.
DeleteTeqball seems really exciting! I haven’t heard of it before, but the mix of football and table tennis really catches my attention. I enjoy both sports, so this seems like a fun way to combine them. While it might be tough to rival Teqball's "mother sports", football and table tennis, I agree that it has great potential. However, I do wonder if it might be challenging to find Teqball tables in some areas, which might limit its growth. I’m curious to see how much it will expand in the future!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Alexander! It’s awesome that you’re excited about Teqball! The mix of football and table tennis really makes it fun. You’re right that finding Teqball tables can be hard in some places, which might slow its growth. But as more people learn about the sport, we can hope to see more tables and events soon!
DeleteAmazing sport! It combines ping pong with football and it's a really good mix of two big sports. So innovative and with a good opportunity to grow up. Can Teqball become as popular as other sports, or will it stay small?
ReplyDeleteTeqball is a great mix of ping pong and football, which could help it grow. It may face some challenges, but with more visibility and easier access, it could become more popular.
Delete(Alejandro Redondo) Great Job! Teqball has grown rapidly and gained global attention, but should it continue evolving as a professional competitive sport or keep its recreational essence? To what extent could commercialization impact its popularity and authenticity?
ReplyDeleteAlejandro, Teqball's growth is impressive. As it becomes more competitive, it could attract a larger audience, but commercialization must be handled carefully to maintain its authenticity. Balancing both could help it thrive without losing what makes it special.
DeleteI have seen this sport previously but never played!
ReplyDeleteTeqball's distinctive fusion of table tennis and football gives the sports industry a new, exciting edge. Although its inexpensive setup costs and increasing popularity make it accessible, its skill requirements can keep it in a niche. Exciting to see where it goes!
Thanks Jordi, Teqball’s mix of table tennis and football is definitely unique! While it’s accessible in terms of setup, the skill level needed could limit its reach. However, with growing interest, it could expand more as players continue to improve and spread the sport.
DeleteTeqball is a very fun sport! All of us who have played football at some point have played a similar game and I remember that it was always a lot of fun. I like how it mixes football and ping-pong. I find it incredible that it is growing and I am very happy because I think it is a very entertaining sport to watch. Imagine watching it at the Olympic Games! It would be incredible!
ReplyDeleteTeqball’s mix of football and ping-pong does make it a lot of fun! Its growth is exciting, and seeing it at the Olympics would definitely be amazing. If it continues to expand and gets the right exposure, it could be a great addition to global sports events.
DeleteGreat article! I think Teqball has a lot of potential to grow. Its unique mix of football and table tennis makes it exciting. If managed well, it could keep growing, Do you think Teqball will become really popular or stay niche?
ReplyDeleteTeqball is growing fast, but do you think it’s better for it to stay as a fun, casual sport, or could it really become a serious, professional competition like football or tennis?
ReplyDelete